Bruins Notebook: Marchand toning it down

Brad Marchand certainly earned his moniker as the ‘Little Ball of Hate’ in his first two NHL seasons, when his instigating tactics and ability to get under opponents’ skin were more of a focus than any actual hockey skills. This year, that’s taken a backseat so far as he eases back into NHL action after the lockout.

Brad Marchand certainly earned his moniker as the ‘Little Ball of Hate’ in his first two NHL seasons, when his instigating tactics and ability to get under opponents’ skin were more of a focus than any actual hockey skills.

This year, that’s taken a backseat so far as he eases back into NHL action after the lockout.

"I talked to the coach at the end of the year and they wanted me to focus more on just playing the game," Marchand said before Tuesday’s game against the Devils. "That can extend your career a few years. That’s what I’ve tried to do, just play my game, especially not playing in eight months and just getting back into it."

Marchand has gotten engaged in the past by chirping in opponents’ ears and straddling the line of being an aggravator and being dirty.

He hasn’t even approached that line through the first five games, only getting called for one penalty (hooking Monday at Carolina) and rarely chirping or being chirped at.

Yet his production is still high. Entering Tuesday, Marchand led the team with three goals, including one shorthanded Monday.

"I knew I could still find different ways of the game to produce, to be effective," he said. "That’s just one thing that I enjoy doing, it gets me going a little bit more if I’m not going. But at the same time, you can’t rely on that all the time. There’s so much more to the game than just being a little rat, so I’ve got to focus on those things."

Marchand's transition began last season after flipping Vancouver's Sami Salo with a hip check. He was suspended five games for the hit, his second suspension in as many years.

Upon returning, Marchand's game changed and so did his time in the penalty box. In October, November and December last season, he had 62 penalty minutes in 35 games. In January through April, he had 27 PIMs in 41 games.

"He’s gaining experience in that area," coach Claude Julien said. "You want to be what you are, he certainly can get under people’s skin. You don’t want to get under the referee’s skin. Early on I think that’s what was happening. Now, he’s picking his spots and he’s picking the right spots and he knows when to get out and not push his luck. That’s a credit to the experience that he’s had over these years."

Marchand did get into it a little bit with New Jersey's David Clarkson on Tuesday night. Clarkson made a gesture poking fun at Marchand's big nose.

Page 2 of 2 - Marchand got the last laugh, and the last word, when he scored the winning goal in the shootout of the Bruins' 2-1 win, then said something as he went past the New Jersey bench.

Skinner called out

The Bruins said Tuesday that Carolina’s Jeff Skinner slew-footed Patrice Bergeron at the end of Monday’s game.

In the final seconds as the Bruins were clearing the puck to preserve an eventual 5-3 win, Bergeron and Skinner were both behind the Boston net. As the puck squirted into the corner, Skinner appeared to extend his leg into Bergeron’s, causing both to fall.

Bergeron immediately confronted Skinner and officials separated the two. Both were given roughing penalties.

Skinner has a reputation in the Bruins locker room for slew-footing.

"It was the first time he did it (to me), but I thought it was uncalled for," Bergeron said. "The puck wasn’t even close." …

Marlborough’s Bobby Butler is a part of the Devils’ organization, but remains with the AHL affiliate Albany Devils. In 36 games there, he has 16 goals and 10 assists.

Butler took part in New Jersey’s training camp earlier this month, but didn’t make the team and was sent back to Albany. He played in the AHL All-Star Game in Providence on Monday and had an assist. …

Adam McQuaid returned to the Bruins on Tuesday, but didn’t play. He was gone for two days after his grandmother Geneva McQuaid died at 88. The defenseman is one of Geneva’s 30 grandchildren.

McQuaid was stuck in an airport Monday night after his flight back to Boston was canceled. He didn't return home until Tuesday morning, a factor in Julien giving him the night off.

"We decided to give him that, he got in this morning but slept at the airport last night," Julien said. "There were some cancellations and there wasn’t much time between when he found out and when he had to leave so he basically slept in an airport. And not having skated for a few days I thought it was more prudent to let him skate a little bit and get a practice under his belt before we reinsert him."

Aaron Johnson once again played on the third pairing with Andrew Ference.

Dan Cagen can be reached at 508-626-3848 or dcagen@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanCagen.